IMechE Apprentice Automation Challenge 2025 | The Prize for the WINNING Team…?

The Apprentice Automation Challenge, organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (ImechE), is a competition where teams design and build a prototype device that automates a common product or process.

Held annually and now in its eleventh year, this engineering challenge had a record 17 apprentice teams taking part, to demonstrate a wide variety of products and a high level of quality and professionalism in their work.

The judging was close, but ultimately the crowned winners were apprentices from team Elevation Nation at Niftylift, who retained the title for the second year in a row.

As a prize, The Manufacturer will be inviting the winners to The Manufacturer MX Awards in November. They will also be given a stand to showcase their winning product at next year’s Smart Manufacturing Week at the NEC in June.

The process

Participants are encouraged to develop their existing skills and knowledge to turn their ideas into reality. They are also required to write a full design and business report, which mirrors the same requirements that you would find in industry.

The finals event provides teams with the opportunity to present their work for evaluation and scoring by a panel of judges, often engineers in industry. These include both formal presentations of their product documentation, alongside a proper demonstration of their prototype devices.

This included a design specification document, manufacturing process, a user-friendly manual, and a business case for the production, marketing and sale of their proposed product.

By trying to replicate the real world of engineering as closely as possible, the challenge enables young engineers to gain valuable skills and experience of working as a team on an engineering project. The experience and skills gained from participating are seen as important steps to moving into graduate roles in industry.

The winning prizes

The Seven Seeds team from Leonardo earned the coveted Peer Review award, voted for by their fellow teams, while Thales’ Mech Me Up Before You Go Go secured The Manufacturer’s Most Commended award, which won them a cash prize of £500.

And for the winning team at Niftylift, they have been invited to this year’s Manufacturer MX Awards in November, where they will have the chance to mingle with some of the UK’s best and most innovative manufacturers.

The Niftylift team will also get to exhibit their winning product, the Niftystir, at next year’s Smart Manufacturing Week in June.